The internet seems to now consist of those people who can condense their daily conversations down to 140 characters per interaction, and those who can’t. Microblogging has been around on the internet now for a while, with sites such as Jaiku, Pownce, Plurk (the new kid on the block) and the grand master of them all (when it isn’t experiencing problems…) Twitter. With desktop apps, you can spend you entire day with the burble of conversation popping up continuously like the chatter of work colleagues in a large open plan office.
Like many other social applications, we are often asked what the benefit of microblogging is. Is it really a powerful way to get known and boost an online reputation, or is it just another way of wasting time?
The list of benefits isn’t too shabby:
1. It teaches you to say the most important thing in the fewest words possible.
2. It is quick, not just to write but for people to read.
3. It gives you an instant way to alert people to new blog posts, or interesting articles in your field.
4. Chances are your subscribers are really interested in what you have to say (otherwise they wouldn’t be there)
5. It doesn’t require long periods of concentration (by either you or your audience).
6. Over time, your subscribers will get to know you through the links you deliver and the comments you make.
7. As it is more like a conversation (especially sites like Plurk), you can get to know people quickly and well.
8. Being a part of it means you’re more likely to get the latest information, as it happens (providing you have subscribed to the relevant people)
9. It allows you to listen, and respond immediately
Microblogging platforms are a fantastic way not only to listen to the conversation, but to broadcast your own thoughts, actions, blog posts, achievements and questions to a broad audience. Your reputation is based on what you say, do, share and offer online and microblogging provides you with a really quick, easy to digest way of doing it. As more and more blogs hit the internet, chances are the people you want to communicate with are looking for ways to get the information they want quickly and easily.
Build your reputation in 140 characters or less? It can be done as long as you stick at it 
(and that was only 94 characters)
Thank you to TCM Hitchhiker for the image
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